Program

The home affairs select committee said Prevent cannot deal with the modern challenges of fighting extremismThe government’s anti-terrorism programme, Prevent, is “outdated and inadequately prepared” to deal with modern challenges such as extremists adhering to no particular ideology, an influential cross-party group of MPs has concluded.The home affairs select committee has called for a reset to the approach for dealing with fast-evolving online subcultures promoting antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility, misogyny and violence, as well as an over-representation of neurodiverse people and those with mental health conditions.A growing prevalence of under-18s being drawn into extremism.Neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, being over-represented among referrals to the programme.Fluid or hybrid ideological beliefs among those referred and a shift toward nihilistic violence.Influencers and creative tools such as memes, humour and coded messaging being used to spread extremist content in a way that is accessible and appealing.Generative AI being used to produce large volumes of tailored content and disinformation.An increase in hate crimes and incidents in the UK that are linked to anti-blasphemy activism, anti-Israel extremism, anti-Muslim hostility and eco-extremism. Continue reading...

• JPMorgan Chase authorized a $5 billion share repurchase program, effective immediately, following a strong first quarter in which net income exceeded $6.2 billion and return on equity reached 15.3%. • CEO Jamie Dimon stated that the buyback reflects management confidence in the bank's capital position and long-term earnings trajectory despite macroeconomic headwinds. • The announcement signals investor-friendly capital allocation policies among major financial institutions, supporting bank stock valuations and demonstrating the sector's resilience amid ongoing rate cut speculation.

• NASA announced revisions to its lunar exploration plans, delaying the first crewed Artemis IV landing to early 2028 while pausing the Gateway lunar station to prioritize a surface base. • The International Space Station's retirement is postponed to the mid-2030s, with plans to add detachable modules for a future standalone station, facing pushback from private space firms. • NASA will launch Space Reactor-1 Freedom, a nuclear engine demonstration to Mars, scheduled for December 2028 to test advanced propulsion.

• The White House added Jentadueto, Jentadueto XR for Type 2 diabetes, and Striverdi Respimat for COPD to TrumpRx, enabling cash discounts on brand-name drugs from Boehringer Ingelheim. • Consumers can bypass insurance for lower prices on these medications via the website, expanding access amid high health care costs. • The move supports broader efforts to reduce drug prices as NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya's acting CDC role ends March 26.

Managing director Hugh Marks defiant the ABC will not back down on staff demands despite severe disruption to television, radio and digitalFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 2,000 ABC staff around Australia have walked off the job for a 24-hour strike, forcing ABC services across TV, radio and digital to use BBC World Service and repeat programming.The ABC managing director, Hugh Marks, is defiant the ABC will not back down on staff demands despite the severe disruption. Continue reading...

• On March 18, 2026, the CDC released a notice finding insufficient evidence to add Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane (Anti-GBM) Glomerulonephritis to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions after receiving a petition from the WTC Health Program Administrator. • The decision highlights ongoing evaluations of conditions potentially linked to 9/11 exposures for covered responders and survivors. • This ruling impacts thousands of WTC Health Program participants seeking coverage for emerging renal diseases.

• The FDA approved the first RSV vaccine for infants via maternal immunization on March 18, 2026, allowing pregnant women to receive vaccination in the third trimester to confer passive immunity to newborns. • The approval is based on a Phase 3 trial showing 82% efficacy in preventing severe RSV disease in infants under six months, with passive immunity lasting approximately three months post-birth. • RSV causes approximately 100,000 hospitalizations and 300-400 deaths annually among US infants, making this vaccine potentially transformative for preventing severe respiratory illness in the most vulnerable population.